Gardenia jasminoides Celestial Star - Cape Jasmin - Plant in 2 L Pot

Gardenia jasminodes can be found growing wild in Vietnam, Southern China, Taiwan, Japan, Myanmar and India and were first described as long ago as 1761 by English botanist John Ellis. It would be difficult as an early exploring botantist, not to have your attention sharply drawn to Gardenias. From personal experience I can tell you the fragrance from a Gardenia grove in China was almost overwhelming, all be it the plants were the species type, similar to the one you would buy as a house plant! Gardenia jasminoides Celestial Star is an improved, hardy Gardenia and retains the intense fragrance associated with Gardenia. There is some discussion as to just how hardy this plant is, however I am confident it will survive well in southern regions in a sheltered location with dappled shade. In colder areas of the Uk it would need winter protection, so may be best grown in a moveable container. Early spring foliage and that on young plants can be yellowish in appearance but will quickly turns deep lush green when summer growth gets underway. This plant is ericaceous so please do not plant in chalky soils or the leaves will definitely turn yellow and stay that way, eventually the plant will die! Otherwise easy to grow in semi shade in most fertile, moist, free draining acid to neutral soils. Can easily be grown in a pot or other container. Use a good quality, free draining compost and we recommend you add a controlled release fertiliser, such as Osmocote Pro 8-9 month formulation, in early spring. One application will supply sufficient nutrients for the whole year.